7 Unusual bath ingredients that are better than bubbles

Krissy Brady is a womens health + lifestyle writer whos so out of shape, its like she has the innards of an 80-year-old. Instead of learning how to crochet, she decided to turn her emotional baggage into a writing career (genius, no?). F...

How to spike your next bath for better skin head-to-toe

Baths are for more than relaxing (and perhaps blowing bubbles): Depending on the ingredients you add, they're also a stellar way to give your body a boost. By adding just the right product, you can heal dry skin, relieve cramped muscles, even soothe a nasty sunburn. In fact, you probably already have these seven weirdly wonderful bath ingredients sitting in your cupboard right now:

1. Baking soda

Honestly, what can't you do with baking soda? Not only does it make a better shampoo than my shampoo, but if you add a 1/2 cup to your bath water and let it dissolve, you'll end up with the silkiest of smoothiest skin. Crazy, right? (The baking soda thing, not my habit of making up words.)

2. Apple cider vinegar

This is something I didn't believe until I tried it myself: If you've got a nasty sunburn and are in desperate need of relief, all you have to do is add a cup of apple cider vinegar to your bath water. Bam.

3. Green tea

Not only does green tea offer oodles of health benefits when consumed, it also makes for a fabulous addition to your beauty routine. Adding eight to 10 teabags to your next bath may help detox your skin from pollutants, not to mention act as an astringent for oily skin. You won't care how weird it seems when your skin's looking all amazing.

4. Sea salt

If you experience post-workout muscle cramps and soreness, add a handful of sea salt to your bath water and give yourself a soak. Word is the salt releases minerals and nutrients that break down the buildup of lactic acid (which is what causes muscle pain).

5. Red wine

I know what you're thinking: Leftover wine? What's that? But hey, maybe your bestie left some behind that your taste buds don't enjoy. Instead of letting it go to waste, pour a glass or more into your next bath. The polyphenols in red wine are stellar antioxidants for your skin, while the tartaric acid helps reduce pesky discoloration. Soak for 20 minutes or so, and enjoy what it must feel like to release a rap single.

6. Honey

Cleopatra totally knew what she was doing: Honey not only moisturizes your skin, but helps it retain moisture. It's also perfect for sensitive skin, thanks to it being an anti-irritant. Make sure to use 100 percent pure honey, which is best for skin, and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup to your bath water.

7. Coconut oil

Whether it's coconut, olive or baby oil, adding a splash of it to your next bath will basically guarantee super-soft skin is in your future. Melt 1/4 cup of coconut oil in the microwave and add to your bath water.